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JBattle-JSall. 



DR. SARGENT'S 

Normal School of Physical 
Training 

FOR WOMEN 



BEGINS 



The Third Thursday in October 



THE HARVARD 

Summer School of Physical 
Training 

FOR BOTH SEXES 



BEGINS 



The Last Thursday in June 



Send for Circulars to 

D. A. SARGENT, Director, 

Cambridge, Mass. 



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3Sattle*»all, 



BY 




d. aFsargent, M. D. 



CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 












Copyright, 1894, by D. A. Sargent. 



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BATTLE-BALL 

Those of us whose duty it is to devise and pre- 
scribe exercises for the physical education of youth, 
have long felt the need of a new athletic or gym- 
nastic game. The present popularity of athletic 
sports, and the recognized value of competitive 
exercise as an aid to physical development, have 
stimulated an interest among all classes in some 
kind of recreative game. When we come to look 
over the list of games, however, that are applicable 
to the wants of the mass of players, we find the 
number exceedingly limited. 

Base-ball and foot-ball are unquestionably the 
most popular games, but they require so much 
space and give activity to so few that the great 
majority of our growing youth are debarred from 
the privilege of participating in them. Then, 
again, the high degree of skill that is now required 
of those who take part in these sports exacts more 
time for practice than most persons can afford to 
give. 

Even the game of lawn-tennis, which was once 
so universally played, has progressed beyond the 
ability of the average young man and woman. The 
time required for practice, and the limited area 
available for courts even in our largest universities, 
have deprived this most acceptable game of a great 
part of its usefulness. At the same time, the 
number of young men and women in our schools, 
colleges and various branches of mercantile and 



professional life, who are in need of the beneficial 
influence of some kind of recreative game, is con- 
stantly increasing. 

The essential requisites of such a game are as 
follows : It must be interesting enough in itself to 
arouse enthusiasm, quicken the circulation and 
respiration, and bring out some of those admirable 
mental qualities that are developed in foot-ball, 
base-ball, etc. ; it must be of such a nature as to 
admit of its being played within a floor space of 
about 1 200 square feet, such as is afforded by most 
gymnasiums ; it must be so simple that anyone can 
play it without long training or previous practice ; 
it must give special employment to the parts of the 
body which among the student class are most in 
need of development — the chest, waist, back, and 
left arm as well as the right arm ; it must engage 
the general activity of both mind and body, and 
keep every player on the alert ; it must be antag- 
onistic without allowing any opportunity for injury 
from personal contact or collision ; it must be capa- 
ble of expansion, so that large numbers can play it at 
the same time ; it must be a short, sharp and deci- 
sive game, so as to leave no room for disputes and 
discussions ; it must be free from danger of any kind 
that would be hazardous to life or limb ; it must 
be a game that can be played by either sex, in 
or out of doors according to the season. 

•After considerable experimenting, it has seemed 
to us that the new game, called "battle-ball," com- 



bines all of these requisites and essentials better 
than any game to which our attention has ever 
been called. It is a game which embraces at once 
some of the features of bowling, base-ball, cricket, 
foot-ball, hand-ball and tennis, 

COURTS OR PLAY GROUND. 

The size of the court may be regulated by the 
amount of space at the disposal of the players. 
The following measurements and arrangements, 
with the diagram, may suggest proportions suitable 
to a satisfactory playing of the game. A court 
with a length twice its width makes an exact square 
for each side — 50x25 feet having been found to 
give the amount of space most desirable for teams 
of five on a side. The lines should be marked on 
the floor or ground as shown on the diagram. 
The full lines on the side, with the broken lines at 
the ends, give the limits of the space enclosed for 
playing ; the broken line in the centre is the centre 
foul line, while the broken lines at the ends are the 
end foul, base or goal lines ; the border beyond 
represents the stop nets, which may be set five feet 
behind the goal lines ; over the goal lines, and seven 
feet above them, cords should be stretched from 
posts (jumping standards will serve the purpose) set 
at the corners of the court; on each goal line place 
three pairs of bowling pins, or Indian clubs of two or 
three pounds weight, one pair in the centre and the 
others three feet from the posts, the pins of each 



pair being eighteen inches apart. With teams of 
five, the three stationed in front of the pins serve 
as guards or goal tenders, while the forwards act 
mainly as throwers. 

When the game is played out of doors, and a 
larger number than usually make a team wish to 
play, several courts can be laid out side by side, 
the right side line of one answering for the left side 
line of another. Goal pins may be substituted by 
wands or sticks projecting about three feet above 
the ground ; and in place of the back stop nets, 
substitutes, or shacks, may be employed to chase 
the balls that pass the goal lines. 

A round rubber ball, filled with air and covered 
with leather (same material as a foot-ball), nine 
inches in diameter and weighing about a pound, 
has proved to be the most satisfactory missile and 
completes the outfit. 

DIRECTIONS FOR PLAYING. 

While five make the best number, three, four or 
six on a side may play the game comfortably and 
to advantage. The positions of the players may 
be changed about, but in a close contest it is de- 
sirable to have the best throwers in front, and the 
best catchers for guarding the goals. 

The side having the ball, which may be decided 
by the toss of a cent or other means, tries to throw 
it between the goal posts of the other side ; if it 
succeeds in doing this, ten points are scored in its 



favor ; failing to make a goal, but hitting a pin or 
post instead, five points are counted ; if the ball 
only passes the goal line under the cord, three points 
are made. Should the ball go over the goal cord, 
it is a foul and counts one against the side throw- 
ing it — this the goal tenders will try to cause by 
pushing the ball up instead of stopping it. If a 
thrower steps over the centre foul line, two points 
are counted against his side. 

The game may be played five, ten, fifteen, or 
twenty minutes, according to the condition of the 
players. Two ten minutes innings, with a five 
minutes rest between, makes a short, sharp and 
exciting game, and seems best suited to the interest 
and endurance of the average student. 

There should be a referee, two judges, and one 
or two scorers, though all of these functions maybe 
performed by one person in practice games. The 
referee keeps the time, starts the game, announces 
its progress, and settles all disputes. The judges 
watch for fouls, and report the points made by their 
respective sides to the scorers. If the score is 
posted on a blackboard in view of the players, the 
interest is much enlivened. 

POINTS OF INTEREST. 

In order to realize the best physical results from 
the game, the ball should be folded on the wrist 
and bowled with a straight arm, while the weight 
is thrown forward on the opposite leg and the body 



8 



swung nearly half round from the waist. By this 
movement the muscles of the chest, abdomen, loins 
and legs are brought into powerful action, and the 
ball can be thrown with greater speed and ac- 
curacy. 

The ball can be best stopped by blocking it with 
both arms, legs, and body, if necessary. 

When acting on the defensive, the throwers 
usually fall back to within a few feet of the goal 
tenders so as to cover the gaps between them — 
but not too far back, as this tires the players and 
gives no opportunity for the guards to stop such 
balls as pass the forwards. Nor should the guards 
play too far in front of their goal pins except when 
running to the front to throw the ball, at which 
time the exposed pins should be covered by one of 
the forwards. 

The constant aim should be to throw the ball 
through the pins, or an opening between the 
players instead of at the players who are prepared 
to catch it. 

In this game, as in foot-ball, skill may be shown 
in attacking or defending weak points, and in so 
conducting the game that the most points are made 
just when they are most needed. 

An interesting feature of the game is the fre- 
quency with which the score is changed, first one 
side and then the other being ahead ; which, with 
well-matched teams, leaves the final result uncer- 
tain until the last moment of play has expired. 



the: 



Narragansett Machine Company 



OF 



PROVIDENCE, R. I. 

Will furnish all of the articles necessary in 
Playing Battle-Ball 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



029 712 924 7 < 




